“We’re thrilled to expand our relationship with Shakespeare
& Company through this exciting collaboration on Leap Year”\, annou
nced Simon’s Rock Provost and Vice President Peter Laipson. “We are always
delighted to welcome new artists and new audiences to Simon’s Rock\, and
particularly pleased to showcase the talents presenting this production.”<
/p>\n

Shakespeare & Company arrives in South County and is elated to pre
sent a special production of William

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Coe Bigelow’s Leap Year
i>at Bard College at Simon’s Rock in Great Barrington. Directed by Stephe
n Rothman (2012 Parasite Drag)\, Leap Year tells the story o
f Rob and Lisa Montgomery whose second child is born with Down syndrome. T
he first act takes place in a duplex apartment in Los Angeles\, starting t
he day their son is born\, on February 29th\, 1988 as the couple\, their f
riends\, and family struggle to come to terms with the painful event and t
he difficult choices they suddenly face. The second act transpires five le
ap years later\, on February 29th\, 2008\, in the same duplex apartment\,
when the decisions the Montgomery’s have made with regard to their son’s u
pbringing play out in stark terms. This captivating drama goes straight to
the gut\; at its center are questions about personal responsibility\, par
enting\, a personal sense of God\, and finally\, the redemptive quality of
love and forgiveness.

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Performances: August 23 through Sept
ember 1 at The McConnell Theater\, located within the Daniel Arts Center o
n the campus of Bard College at Simon’s Rock\, 84 Alford Rd\, Great Barrin
gton\, MA. Press Opening is August 24 at 7:00pm. Directions visit:www.simons–roc
k.edu/EarlyCollege or call (413) 644-4400.

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“Shakesp
eare & Company has a longstanding relationship with Bard College at Simon’
s Rock\,” says Simotes. “We are so pleased they will host our Training pro
gramming once again\, and act as our satellite campus\, so to speak\, for
the upcoming and provocative new play Leap Year. From running our m
onth-long acting workshops back in the early 90’s to the present with our
Summer Training Institutewhere weprovide budding young actors the oppor
tunity to immerse themselves in Shakespeare for six weeks\, we look forwar
d to the upcoming collaboration and performing in the state-of-the-art McC
onnell Theatre. It will be such a privilege to work with some of the artis
ts I’ve know for many years who are now faculty at Simon’s Rock including
S&Co. members Karen Beaumont and Sandy Cleary\; and director Aimee Michele
\, and new artists that I have yet to meet. What a thrill!”

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Bard College at Simon’s Rock\, founded
in 1966\, is the only college in the country specifically designed for br
ight\, highly motivated students ready to enter college early\, usually af
ter the 10th or 11th grade. Simon’s Rock offers a challenging program in t
he liberal arts and sciences\, taught exclusively in small seminars by a s
upportive\, highly-trained faculty. Degrees are granted in 41 concentratio
ns. Simon’s Rock became part of the Bard College network in 1979. For medi
a inquiries for Bard College at Simon’s Rock\, please contact: Paige Orlof
f porloff@simons-rock.edu. For general inquires visit:www.simons–rock.edu/EarlyCollege or call
(413) 644-4400.

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Location

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Leap Year will be performed at the McConnell Theatre in the Daniel Arts Center
at Bard College at Simon’s Rock in Great Barrington\, MA.